Lovan: Stereophile recommended disappointment.

kr4@nyu.edu, I posted before I saw you were on this thread...(but I know you can take it ;^)

Sure, I can as long as the comments are as honest and to-the-point as yours.

The recommendation I made for the Lovan was based on a single sample of the 4-tiered double-width rack. I cleaned the threads with a tap and a die and damped the shelves with Dynamat. The frame, especially when filled with sand or lead-shot is fine. The shelves are where they cut corners and they offer better ones for more $$$.

As always, a gentleman and a scholar... :-)

Is this the Lovan Classic or Sovereign amp stand? Their Sovereign series is significantly better than the Classic. I have the Sovereign filled with lead shot and it supports my 50 pound amp easily. I replaced the stock steel cones with Walker Valid Point cones and I am very happy.

Lovan Classic II, that is. I don't mind their stock shelf--it is a good *template* for my future real shelf. I want to use a steel shelf bolted together to a piece of non resonant, Caribbean Moca wood. I have a Moca board that I'm experimenting with. Below it are four Sound Quest Isol-Pads.

My Clear Image T4 is supported by three Goldmund cones which effectively pierce the wood and drain vibration away. Anything I do to the transformer based T4 affects the music signal downstream. Simply stunning. I was talking to Albert Porter about this, since he also owns one of them T4's--it is true! That's why I bought the Lovan and the Goldmund cones. I want the T4 by itself, totally isolated from the rest of my gear (looks really cool and impressive on the Lovan, BTW). What really pisses me off if the excessive play on the threads. It's going to take a lot of threadlocking compound to patch that. Real sloppy work...

Never worry, the Psychic is an accomplished tweaker!